Mower



Sept. 5, 1939. L. A. PARADISE ET AL MOWER Filed June 4, 1937 7 11v VENToRa 100/5 14. PflEAD/JE M0 W/ww? J (oz/mu A TTORNE Y6 Paeneisept. 5,1939 I 2,171,761

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIDWER Louis A. Paradise and Wilbur J. Coultas, Moline, 111., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, 111.,

a corporation oflllinois Application June 4, 1937, Serial No. 146,352 12 Claims. (01. 56-25) The present invention relates to tractorthe tractor by a simple driving chain cnnecti0n.' mounted implements and more particularly to The fluid motor is mounted on the cutter bar and mowers of the type comprising a tractor mounthence can be connected directly to the sickle. ed frame adapted to swing both vertically and Thus the flexible hose connection between the horizontally relative to the tractor and supportpump and the motor accommodates both the ver- 5 ing a laterally extending cutting mechanism tical swinging of the cutter bar relative to the driven by power derived from the tractor power supporting frame and also the horizontalswingtake-off shaft. A mower of this general type is ing of the cutter bar and frame relative to the disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,946,541 and 1,946,544, ,draft framewhen the cutter bar strikes an dated February 13,1934. In this type of mower, obstruction. '10 the cutter bar and supporting frame are so con- These and other objects and advantages of our nected to the tractor that they are free to swing invention will be apparent after a consideration vertically with respect to the tractor as the imof the following detailed description of'a specific plement is drawn over uneven ground, and also embodiment of our invention,,in which reference free to swing horizontally about a vertical pivot is made to the drawing appended hereto, in which 15 when the cutter bar strikes an obstruction. Figure 1 is a plan view of a mower embodying In mechanical transmissions of the type in our invention and mounted on a tractor. In common use for conveying power from the power broken lines is shown the position the cutting take-off shaft on the tractor to the cutting memechanism and supporting frame take when the o chanism, it is necessary to use a double universal cutter bar strikes an obstruction and is released joint and splined telescoping shafts to obtain the to swing back out of the way; and

flexibility of drive required by such a free-moving Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a mechanism. fluid motorshowing the manner in which it is The principal object of the present invention mounted on the cutter bar to operate the sickle.

is to provide a completely flexible drive with the The mower shown in Figure 1 comprises two 25 elimination of all universal joints and splined rearwardly converging frame members 4 and 5, shafts. In the accomplishment of this object, the which a e Joined their. rear ends and s p tcutting mechanism is driven by a pressure actued on a caster wheel 6.1 Suitable cross bracing ated motor such as a fluid motor, the power for members 1, B, 9, and e frame r y which is derived from a pressure generating deand Provide means for attaching the Cutting 30 vice such as a fluid pump, driven by th power mechanism l2. This frame is connected to atractake-off shaft of the tractor. The coupling betor l y a s f a draft f am 8 mp is n tween the fluid motor, which is mounted on the a tr n v s m r 9. w i is rigidly fix d t freely moving cutting mechanism, and the fluid a -s ap member Which in 1 e ure pump is by means of flexible hose which permits t t t a ss ar and i d y r dv y 35 a wide range of deflection with no loss of ower. tw a in m mb s 22 and 3 t d n m More specifically, the object of our invention the member 20 t0 the e axle housings e has to do with positioning the pump a d th mower frame supporting the cutting mechanism motor where they will effectively eliminate the is connected o the dreftfreme l8 by means of a necessity for flexible mechanical connections, Shackle which is Pivotally connected by 40 other than the above m ntion d h e, for t a vertical bolt 24f to the forward end of the left mitting power between parts which are relatively frame m m 4 to p mit h r z ntal swi movable during'operation. A related object is movement. and PiVOtelly connected to e upconcerned with ositioning the parts of the fluid turned end 25 of the transverse member 19 by a pressure system'in permanent locations on the horizontal bolt 25' to permit vertical swinging 45 mower itself to eliminate any necessity for dismovement. Thus it can be seen that the shackle connecting hose connections when uncoupling the 24 acts as a un v rsal j nt nn ti n we n implement from the tractor. the frame and draft members.

These objects are accomplished by permanent- The forward end of the right frame member 5 0 1y mounting the fluid pump on the draft frame is supported on the draft frame l8 and secured of the mower. This frame is adapted to be rigidly thereto by means of a latch 26, not shown in deflxed to the rigid draft frame of the tractor, tail here but fully disclosed in Patent No. therefore there is no relative movement between 1,946,544, dated February 13, 1934. The function thetractor and the pump during operation. The of the latch 26 is to transmit draft to the mower Pump is connected to the P W F kQ'Qfi sha t Oi under ordinary working conditions, but to re- 55 which is connected by a horizontal pivot bolt 33 to the upturned end 35 of the transverse member I9. This guide rod 30 is in sliding telescopic engagement with a cylindrical sleeve 36 which is pivotal-1y connected to the mower frame across brace 8 by means of a vertiseat of the tractor.

The mower cutting mechanism I2 comprises a laterally extending cutter bar H which supports a reciprocating sickle 42 driven by a fluid motor 43 mounted on the said cutter bar. The cutter bar H is supported on a shoe 44 which is pivotally connected to a. shoe arch 45 so as to permit the cutter bar and shoe to swing in a transverse vertical plane relative to the shoe arch.

Connecting the cutting mechanism I2 to the mower frame is a transversely disposed drag bar 50 and a diagonally forwardly extending brace in a longitudinal] vertical plane. The other end 53 of thedrag bar 50 is bent rearwardly at a substantiallyright angle and journaled in a longitudinally disposed bearing 54 which is fixed to the left frame member 4 and the cross brace 8 so that the drag bar 50 can be rotated in a transverse vertical plane relative to the mower frame.

The brace rod 5I is journaled in the shoe arch 45 to permit swinging of the shoe arch in a transverse vertical plane relative to the frame, while the other end 55 is pivotally connected to the in Patent No. 1,946,541, dated as are means for raising and disclosed in detail February 13, 1934,

lowering the cutting mechanism relative to the connected to the .tractor cross bar 2 I, which is in rigid relation to the frame of the'tractor I 5. Thus it is evident that the fluid pump 60 which is mounted on the cross member I 9 is in fixed relation with its drive shaft parallel to the tractor power take-off shaft 52 at all times, requiring only The sprocket wheel 59 mounted on the splined power take-off shaft 62 is of the type adapted to on the drive shaft of the fluid pump.

In order to transmit fluid pressure from the lines 63 and 64 are provided, to the pump through an intake connection 65 and an ,outlet connection 66. These hose lines are connected to the valve housing motor 43, supplying the motor with fluid under back on striking an obstruction, the slack in the hose lines is taken up, and the restraining springs 61 and 68 stretch to permit the hose lines to assume more nearly straight line positions. This action is illustrated in the broken line drawdraulic, pneumatic, or electrical, might be used to reciprocate the The fluid motor 43 is mounted on the cutter bar M by means of a mounting bracket 13 and mounting bolts 14.

In operation it will be seen that a mower emattachment of the sprocket gear driving the pump to the splined power take-off shaft. The fluid pump is an integral part of the mower, making it unnecessary to connect or disconnect fluid pressure lines. All universal joints and telescoping splined shafts have been eliminated from the power transmission, yet complete flexibility of transmission has been secured.

We do not intend our invention to be limited to the details shown and described in connection with this embodment except as limited by the following claims.

We claim: An implement attachment for a tractor having a body, a draft frame rigidly fixed thereto, and an engine driven tending out of said body, said implement attachment comprising a draft member, means for coupling said draft member to said tractor draft frame and preventing relative movement between said member and said frame, an implement frame, means for connecting said implement frame with said draft member providing for a limited relative movement between said implement frame and sa d draft member during normal operation, operating mechanism mounted on said implement frame, and means for transmitting power from said tractor to said mechanism including a pressure generating device, means for fixedly attaching said deviceto said draft member, means for operatively connecting said device to said power take-off shaft to receive power therefrom, a pressure actuated motor supported on said implement frame and connected to drive said operating mechanism, and flexible conduit means interconnecting said pressure generating device and said motor for transm tting power therebetween.

2. For use with a tractor having an engine driven power take-off shaft, an implement attachment comprising a draft member adapted for rigid attachment with said tractor, an implement frame, means for pivotally connecting said frame to said draft member for swnging movement relative thereto, a reciprocating tool, means for pivotally connecting said tool with said implement frame for swinging movement therebetween, and means for transmitting power from said tractor to said tool including a pressure generat ng device mounted on said draft member and removable from the tractor with said draft member, a driving wheel fixed to said power take-01f shaft, a driven wheel associated with said pressure generating device, a flexible endless member interconnecting said wheels for transmitting power to said generating means, a pressure actuated motor mounted on said tool and connected to actuate the same, and flexible conduit means interconnecting said generating device and said motor for transmitting power therebetween.

3. For use with an engine driven vehicle having a power take-off shaft, an implement attachment comprising an operating mechanism, means for transmitting draft from crating mechanism including a draft member, means for p votally connecting said operating mechanism to said draft member providing for both lateral and vertical swinging movement of said mechanism relative to said draft member, and means for detachably connecting said draft member to said vehicle, and means for transmitting power from said power take-off shaft to said operating mechanism including a. pressure generating device mounted on said draft member and detachable from said vehicle therewith, detachable means for operatively connecting said device to said power take-off shaft to receive power therefrom, a pressure actuated motor dcpower take-off shaft exsaid vehicle to said opvice associated with said operating mechanism and connected to drive the same, and flexible conduit means interconnecting said devices for transmitting power therebetween.

4. For use with an engine driven vehicle having a power take-off shaft, an implement attachment comprising an operating mechanism, means for transmitting draft from said vehicle to said operating mechanism including a draft member, means for pivotally connecting said operating mechanism to said draft member providing for swinging movement of said mechanism relative to said draft member, and means for detachably connecting said draft member to said vehicle, and means for transmitting power from said power take-off shaft to said operating mechanism includng a fluid pump mounted on said draft member and detachable from said vehicle therewith, detachable means for operatively connecting said pump to said power take-off shaft to receive power therefrom. a fluid motor associated I interconnecting sad pump and said motor foransmitting fluid therebetween.

5. An implement attachment for a tractor having a power take-off shaft, said implement attachment comprising a cutter bar, a sickle reciprocatively cooperative therewith, means for transmitting draft from said tractor to said cutter bar including a draft member, means for pivotally connecting said cutter bar to said draft member providing for vertical swinging movement and fore and aft rocking movement of said cutter bar relative to said draft member, and means for detachably connecting said draft member to said tractor, and means for transmitting power from said power take-off shaft to said sickle including a pressure generating device mounted on said draft member and removable from the tractor therewith, detachable means for operatively connecting said device to said power take-off shaft to receive power therefrom, a pressure actuated motor device .rnounted on said cutter bar and connected to drive said sickle, and flexible conduit means interconnecting said device for transmitting power therebetween.

6. A mower attachment for a tractor having a power take-off shaft, said mower attachment comprising a cutter bar, a sickle reciprocatively cooperative therewith, a supporting frame for said cutter bar, means for pivotally connecting said cutter bar to said frame for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a draft member, detachable means for rigidly attaching said member on said tractor for preventing relative movement therebetween, means for pivotally connecting said frame to said draft member for vertical and lateral swinging movement relative thereto, and means for transmitting power from said power take-off shaft to said sickle including a fluid pump mounted on said draft member and removable from said tractor therewith, detachable means for operatively connecting said pump to said power take-off shaft to receive power therefrom, a fluid motor mounted on said cutter bar said cutter bar to said frame for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a draft member, deand operatively connected to drive said tool, and tachable means for rigidly attaching said memflexible conduitmeans interconnecting said gennormally restraining said rizontal swinging comprising a cutter bar, a sickle cooperative movement, said restraining m ans being adapted therewith to be disabled when said cu ter bar encounters bar, means for pivotally connecting said cutter excessive resistance to forwar motion, and means bar to said frame for vertical swinging moveu tractor with the mower attachment, detachable draft member to the tractor, said supporting 15 hose interconnecting said pump and said motor of the ground and to rise and fall relative to the 20 8. A mower attachment for a tractor having a generating device mounted rigidly with respect cooperative therewith, a supporting frame disreceiving power therefrom, a fluid pressure actu- 25 for supporting the forward end of said frame on vice and said I motor for conveying fluid theresaid tractor including a draft member adapted between. I u

to be rigidly fixed to said tractor but readily de- 11. A mower attachment for a tractor having mally restraining said horizontal swinging movefor pivotally connecting said cutter bar to said 35 said frame, and means for transmitting power tachable therefrom, means for pivotally connect- 4 tachment, detachable means for operatively consaid restraining means being adapted to be dis- 45 pump and said motor for transmitting fluid therepower take-off shaft to said sickle comprising a rigid attachment with said tractor, an implepump to said power take-off shaft to receive '55 mal operation, a power-driven tool supported on 12. A mower attachment for a tractor having a 60 said frame for operative movement relative power take-off shaft, said mower attachment thereto, and means for transmitting power from comprising a cutter bar, a sickle reciprocatively resistance to forward motion, ground engaging mounted on said power take-off shaft and admeans for supporting the other end of said frame, justable axially thereon into proper alignment and means for transmitting power from said with said driven wheel, flexible endless power power take-off shaft to said sickle comprising a transmitting means interconnecting said wheels,

:3 fluid pump mounted on said draft member in a a fluid motor mounted on said cutter bar and 5 position adjacent to the tractor power take-off connected to drive said sickle, and flexible hose shaft when said draft member is coupled to the interconnecting said pump and said motor for tractor but removable from the tractor with transmitting fluid therebetween. 4

- said mower attachment, a driven wheel asso- LOUIS A. PARADISE.

10 ciated with said fluid pump, a driving wheel WILBUR J. COULTAS. l0 

